Suede Keyboardist Neil Codling revealed that he has quit the band. The news comes just before they due to start recording their new album.

Codling is now officially retiring from the music industry due to his long-running battle with Chronic Fatigue syndrome. The keyboard player’s last performance with Suede was back in October last year when he appeared to be in good health. A spokesperson later revealed that Codling had recently suffered a relapse, and decided that now would be the best time to make a clean break from the band.

A Suede spokesman revealed that: "Neil is suffering from exhaustion and he has been feeling worse recently. He is going to rest until he feels better." The spokesman added: "Neil's departure might have delayed them a few weeks but they are ready to go in the studio and record the album. He has the full support of everyone in the Suede camp." It was also announced that his replacement will be Alex Lee, formerly of Strangelove, who deputised for Codling in 1999 when he fell ill and pulled out of the band's European dates.

Since becoming the un-official sixth member of the band in 1999, Lee has already co-written several new tracks for the forthcoming album, he also performed on a number of demos. The band are set to start recording their 5th album on May 1 with the confirmed producer being Beck collaborator Tony Hoffer. Preceding the album a single is expected to be released in the autumn.